Who is a South African?

Who is South African?
For many of us foreigners who live in Cape Town this is a question we face daily and one which affects everything we do. It is interesting to me that here, even with more than a trace of my West Indian accent left, everyone thinks of me as American. In America, I am American too but of course I can be called , African-American or Caribbean-American or and ethnic but still be regarded as American. No doubt an apartheid era legacy, here in the Cape and yes, throughout South Africa there are so many classifications. From my experience, there are many South Africa's that do not as yet make a whole. This is the source of much continuing disharmony and, separate communities rarely join together to celebrate anything together. There are some minor exceptions such as the Argus race where in the photo, people from many ethnic backgrounds in Fish Hoek joined to cheer on the global cyclists. Today as I read the local paper, my attention was caught by an article written by Ryland Fisher, a former editor of the Cape Times. Fisher described the confusion of identity between white, Indian, black, Chinese, colored , colored black, colored Indian and even black Chinese, and further, between Xhosas, Zulus, Tshwanas, Pedis, Vendas and Sotos, and their South African identity.
Is it not enough to be born here or does your ancestry qualify your identity? He suggests that this "should be urgently reviewed by the government or whoever does these things." He believes that all people born on the African continent can legitimately call themselves African, "no matter what their color or complexion." He writes further: "if we create an environment in which we acknowledge each other as South Africans we might be able to unite our nation in an unprecedented manner and develop a sense of patriotism that is sorely lacking throughout society." I agree with him and as a Christian worker believe the Church in South Africa must lead the way to break down the barriers that yet exist. Sadly, just as in America, these racial groupings are mirrored in the churches here but in some churches change is slowly happening. In one of the churches I regularly attend here, the pastor is Africa Soto and our church is racially mixed. In another I see a growing mix as people from other cultures begin to feel more welcome.
For sure it is not easy as there are linguistic and cultural differences that matter, but they can never be more important as the unity of this great nation.